Improvement in blind-slat machine



@anni g Un/tetes -To all whom 'it may concern.:

FRANQOIS LEOLERE, OF WATERTO-WN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MOSES OF SAME PLACE.

Leners Paten N0.'99,327, dared February 1, 1ero.

IMPROVEMENT IN BLIND-SLAT MACHINE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

y Be it known that I, Fnnsors LncLnn, of Watertown, in the county of J eferson, and Stat-e or" New York,have invented a new and improved Machine for' Ilenoning and Pricking Blind-Slats; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this speciiicatiom'in whichv Figure l, sheet'l, is a top or plan view of the improved machine, with a portion of the feed-table broken away.

Figure 2, sheet 2, is alongitudinal central section,

taken through the machine, in the vertical plane indicated by red line a; x in lig. 1.

Figure 3, sheet 3, Ais an enlarged 'sectional view of the Slat-holding, rotating, and discharging-devices of y one side of the machine, as seen by making a vertical section, as indicated by the course of the red line y y in iig. 1.

Figure 4, sheet 3, is an enlarged sectional view oi' one of the feeding-slides.

. Figure 5, sheet- 3,is an enlarged sectional view of the tenori-saw and its shaft, of one side 0i the machine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements on machinery which is designed for cutting tenons on the ends of window-blind slats, and also,`

for prickingthe edges of the slats, for the insertion of staples.

The nature of my invention` consists, chiefly, in the application, to intermittent rotating spur-wheels, which' are arranged in parallel planes, at 'proper distances apart, and whose axes of imotion coincide, ot devices which will, at proper times, tirmly gripe and centre 'the slats, and hold them,-. one at a time, in position 'for having tenons formed on their ends; by means of tubular saws, after which the slats will be carried over and presented tol two rotating circular saws, when said clamping-devices willbe caused to give the slats one revolution, and thus produce the shoulders upon them, as will'be hereinafter described.

The invention also consists in combining, with intermittent'rotating spur-wheels, which are adapted for carrying slet-clamping and centring devices, certain means which will discharge the slats from their clamps, after heilig tenoned and shouldered, during the movement oi' the clamps to a position for receiving` other slats, as will he hereinafter described.

The invention also consists in providing for automatically'arresting and locking fast the spurfwheels which carry the Slat-holding and clamping devices, at

lproper times for allowingshoulders to be sawed upon the slats, and at the same time releasing and rotating the clamping-devices, so as to give the slats one revolution while they are being acted upon by the saws, as will be hereinafter described.

rlhe invention further consists inthe employment of pricking-spurs upon a reciprocating slide, which is operated in conjunction with feeding-slides, so that after each slat has been forced bctweenits clamps and properly centred, said spurs will advance and prick the slat exactly in the middle of its length, or at any other desired point, for the insertion of the wire staple, and then recede and allow the slat to be tenoned and shouldered, as will be hereinafter described.

The invention further provides for adapting the machine for priclting-,Z tenoning, and shouldering slats of different lengths and widths, as will be hereinafter described. p

fire invention further provides for the use of adjustable spring-guides and ieeding-devices, for facilitating the introduction of slats to .the clamps, and properly adjusting the slats between said clamps, so that no great care or experience will be required to keep the machine supplied with work.l

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, I will describe its construction and operation.

which arcvsecured firmly n top of and near the extremities of the frame A, wnich beams have tenons formed on their upper surfaces, that receive corresponding grooves, formed in two longitudinal frames, A? A2, and allow the latter to be movedin a lateral direction, and` secured at any required distance apart, according to the length of the slats to be subjected to the machine.

These two laterally-adjustable frames A2 A? are rigidly secured, by bolts or clamps, to frame-beams A* Al, after they are adjusted, so that they aiiord firm bearings for the4 several, parts which they are designed to support.

At the front end of the machine, and supported upon perpendicular standards a a, is a table, A, which is hinged to said standards and inclined forward, so as to rest, at its front end, upon the frames A2 A2, as shown in fig. 2.

Upon this table are two guides, al al, which converge toward the rear end o1" the machine, and terminate at their front ends in inclined plates, which extend down below the table A3, so as to deliver the Slat-'blanks upon the horizontal ways A* A* B, in frontv by means of clamp-screws, passing through transverse slots, made through the table, so that these guides can be adjusted and set for slatsof different lengths.

yThe springs Bl B2 are securedto the inner' sides of their respective frames A2 A2, and their forward ends project some distance beyond the forward edge of table A, and 4bend inward, or toward the centre of the machine, so as to press gently upon the ends of a slat which is being moved between them, and thus bring such slat in a proper position, with respect to the devices for clamping it, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

A set-screw, a2, fig. 1, is employed for adjusting the spring-guide B2, and obtaining a very nice adjustment ot' the slat, with respect to the tenonsaws and shtmlder-saws. g

The longitudinal. ways 4B are arranged exactly in the middle-of thewidth of the-machine, and firmly secured to the frame Abeneath table A3.

Between these ways a slide, B, moves, to whichis secured a longitudinally-adjustable plate, 11, having a spurred plate, b, secured to its forward end, as shown in figs. 1 and 2. These spursv are held in a proper position to move up and prick the slat, when it has.

Slides C C, having lugs projecting up from them,

are applied, for the purpose of carrying the feedingheads b2 b2, which move the slats, one at a'time, between their clamps,

These heads b2 are applied on the front-ends cfscrewrods'b, which pass loosely through the lugs on slides C C, and receive adj usting-nnts'b* on their rear ends, as shown in figs.` 1 and 4. t

vOn each screw-rod, b, a collar is fixed, between which and the rear lugot' the slide C, a spring, 115,'i's applied, which presses the head b2 forward, and 'holds it in position to move forward a slat put upon the ways.

The three slides A4, A4, and B, are connected to ahorizontal transverse bar, C1, the extremities of which project beyond the outer sides of the frames A2 A2,

and receive adjustable collars lupon them, and also the ends of connecting-rods C2 G2. These rods O2 proceed toward the rear end of the machine, and are connected to cranks Ca C, upon the horizontal rotary shafts D D, shown in iig. 1.

As the shafts D D rotate, the three slides and their attachments receive an alternate reciprocating motion.

In ii'ont of the ways A4 A4 are two large spur-wheels, E E, of an equal diameter, which are keyed on the inner ends of shafts El El, whose axes coincide.

The shafts of spur-wheels E E have their bearings in journal-boxes' upon the frames A2 A2, and receive an intermittent rotary motion from the segment spurwheels F F, upon crank-shafts DD, which latter also have their bearings on frames A2 A2.

The two wheels E E are constructed alike in every particular, for which reason ,it will not be necessary to refer to both in describing theirconstrnction.

I make circular openings through the wheel E, diametrically opposite each other, of such diameter as to receive the flanged circular holders C C, so that the latter will rotatefreely. These holders C C have open,- ings made through them, extending from their peripheries to and beyond their centres, which openings are of sufficient size to allow of -theintroduction and centringofthe slats, as shown in fig. 2. Corresponding withdthese openings through the circular slut-holders C G, I make openings through the circumference of the wheel E, which allow the .slats to be introduced edgewise into these lholders C, when the latter are locked in the position shown in fig. 3.

The inner danges of said holders C are toothed, as shown at Gl, for theY purpose 'of engaging with the teeth of- 'a segment, C2, which is secured on one side of the wheel F, in the samel vertical plan-e as the teeth C, and allowing said segment to give one of the slatholders a revolution about its axis at every half revolution o f the wheel E, as willbe hereinafter further explained.

0n the outer surfaces ofthe slut-holders C (l, I pivot clamping-jaws g g1, which are pressed together by means of springs, g". These jaws are pivoted at opposite ends, and properly adjusted by means of setscrews g, passing through the free end of one jaw, and pressing upon the p'ivotedend of its opposite jaw, as shown clearly in fig. 3. Those ends of the jaws of both holders C G, which are nearest the circun'iference of wheel E, are bevelled, so as to flare outward, so as to be forced open when a slat is pressed edgewise be,- tween them; and those portions of the jaws which embrace the slats, are shaped so as to conform to the shape of these slats in cross-section. XVhen these jaws are properly adjusted for a slat of a given size, thickness, and width, -by the set-'screws g, they will snugly hold the slats in acentral position with respect to the holders C, so that these slats willr be properly presented to the work of'tenoning and shouldering.

On the inner side of each` one of the slat-holders c, is a gauge, yi, consisting ofa right-angular plate, slotted, and confined in place by'means of adj listing-screw h and binding-screw h1.

That portion of the gauge g5 which is at right angles tothe length of the opening through the Slat-holder, forms an abutment or stop, against which thev slats are pressed by the feeding-heads b2 b2, and held by the 1 clamping-jaws g g1.

N otches are made in the peripheries ofthe flanges, on the outer sides-of the Slat-holders c, fbr the rece-ption of dogs h2 h, which latter are pressed against said flanges by means of springs h2 h3, shown in fig. 3, and at suitable times, are thrown back and released from their notches, by the action of a wedge, h, upon studs,

. h5, projecting from said dogs.

The wedge h4 is upon a vibrating bent arm, F, which is acted upon by a cam on the shaftD of wheel F.

rlhe two Slat-holders c c, on one wheel, E, are-arranged so that their axes coincide with the axes of the corresponding holders onthe oppositepwheel E; therefore, when a slat is confined between the clamping-devices of each pair of holders, such slat wilibe in a horizontal plane parallel to the axes of the two wheels E E.

The' wheels E E receive motion from the spurs, which are made upon one-half of the two spur-wheels F F, which spurs are'in planes with their respect-ive mittent revolution about their axes; that is to say, the two wheels E E are caused to make one-balfofI a reif'olutiom'so asto bring the two slat-l1olders on one side of the wheels E E, into gear with the segments c2 c2 on wheels F F, and the two slat-holdersc c,lon the opposite side of the axes of wheels E, in position for receiving a slat from the ways A4 A4. When in these positions, the two slat-holders nearest the wheels F, will receivea complete revolution about their axes by the action of segments upon them, after which the wheels E.v will again receive a half rei-'o lutio'mand the other two Slat-holders will be' brought into gear with segments c2, and rotated.

holders, and sawing the shoulders' upon another slat, the two;wheels E 11i will beIfirmly held, and'prevented from turning, by the interlocking of teeth fi t', into notched plates t'l'i upon the said wheels` These locking-teeth i i are upon the'extremities of overhanging of frames Az A2, and -which are acted upon by cams A jj, upon the shafts D D, s o as to be lifted at the mowheels E E. These latter wheels receive an inter During the operation of feeding aslat into the slat-` spring-arms, G G, which are secured to there-ar ends ment the segments c2 leave the teeth vof the Slat-holders, andthe teeth on wheels F commence to rota-te the wheels E.

lwo horizontal transverse saw-arbors, G' G, have their bearings uppn the frames A?, and are arranged so that their axes exactly coincide with the axes of motion of the Slat-holders, when the latter are brought to a position for receiving a slat, as clearly shown in tig. l. These two saw-arbors, Gf', are allowed to receive a rapid rotary motion, and, at the same time, end play. l

The rotary motion is given to said arbors by means of a belt leading from a long drum, Z, and the endwisemovements are imparted to them by means of vibrating levers H, which are acted upon by cams H 0n shafts D, for pressing the arbors inward at every half revolution ofthe wheels E, and also by means of helical springs k 1.', arranged below the arbors, and acting upon them, to press them outward, by means of rods k1 and the yoke-plates 7.12, which latter embrace annular grooves made in the outer extremities of said arbors.

The small set-screws k, which pass through the front ends of levers H, and abut against the plates k2, admit of there being a greater or lesser throw given to the arbors G.

Upon the inner ends of the saw-arbors, Iaiix, centrally, tubular sawsl Z, the object of which is te cut into the ends of slats, confined in the Slat-holders c c, and produce tenons on said slats, leaving the wood, surrounding the tenons, to be cut away by two circular saws, I I, applied on the ends of arbors Il Il.

The saws I l are arranged in planes at right angles to the slats confined .upon the wheels E E, and the arbors of said saws are supported in journal-boxes I2 l I2, which are longitudinally adjustable upon the frames A2 A2. The journal-boxes 12 are made adjustable, in order to compensate for the wearing and sharpening of the saws.

The two spurred wheels F F are rotated constantly in one direction, during the operation of the machine, by means of two pinion-spur wheels J J, which are of suflcie-nt leugthtorengage with the teeth formed on tlielside segments c5, tl1e.teeth formed on the intermediate segments c, and also with the teeth which are formed directly upon the circumference of said wheels.

These pinions are applied upon a horizontal transverse shaft, J1, extending across the rear part of the machine, and having its bearings in standards J2 J2, projecting up from the sides ot' frame A. The shaft J1 is grooved throughout its length, and the pinions J J are secured to it by means of keys or tenons formed on them, so as to allow them to be adjusted endwise, for adapting the machine 'for slats of differentlengths. The pinions J J are kept in place n their shaft by the brackets J 3 J 3, which are secured to the laterally-adjustable frames A2 A2, and constructed with eye-bearings at both ends of each pinion.

any required distance apart, by simply turning the screw L toward the right or left hand.

The tenoning-saws l l and the shouldering-saws, ref eeive their mbtion from the horizontal transverse drum Z, by means of belts. passing around pulleys on the arhors of saidsaws. The shaft J1 receives rotation from'themain drivingshaft, through theV medium of pulleys and belts, which also communicate motion to the drum Z.

Operation.

The Slat-blanks, which have all been cut of an equal length, are laid upon the table A3,and moved forward between the table-guides a, upon the guards F, or allowed to drop, one at a time, in front of the feedinghead or plunger-s b2, when the latter have completedtheir backward stroke.

These slats drop upon the ways Ai A4, B, and between the spring-guides B1 B2. vVlgen the heads b2 b2 move-forward, they carry with them a Slat, and force it in its place between the clamps g gljof the slut-holders c c, farthest from the saws I.

Then a slat has been forced between its clamps by heads b2, and brought against the stops gf', thesprings b5 yield, and allow the slide B3 to complete its forward stroke, in doing which, the spurs 4on plate b1 perforate the edge of the slat, for receiving a wire staple.

,During the pricking of the ,slat-cams, H H' act upon the tubular saw-arbo'rs G', through the medium of levers H, and move the saws l l up the .required distance to sawcylindrical tenons upon tlle ends of said slat, after which the saws l l recede, and the three slides, C, C, and B3, commence their backward stroke. As soon as the slat is released from. its tenen-saws and'pricking-spurs, the teeth i 'i are thrown up byv cams j j acting upon spring-arms G, and the two spurred wheels released. These wheels then move in the direction indicated by the arrow in iig. 2, until they are again caught and held by the spring-teetli t t', when the segments c2, on wheels F F, will be brought into play, and rotate the Slat-holders c c, nearestthen, during which operation the two saws I I will produce the square shoulders upon the ends of the slat, thereby exposing the tenons previouslycut-by the llaibular "saws l Z.

During the operation of sawingthe shoulders upon saws complete their work, and the wheelsE start again, there will be another slat readyto be shouldered...

As the wheels E revolve, and the slats are-brought to a position to be shouldered, the wedges hl on levens Vfinished slat lbeneath the table and beneath two eccentric flanges M M, which are secured to theinner sides of frames A2. These flanges are eccentric'to theaxes of the wheels E, and press upon the slat, so as to force it from between its clamps, and finally discharge itfrom the said wheels.

It will be seen from the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that the devices for tenoning and shouldering one end ot' a slat, are upon one frame., A2, andthe devices forsimilarly treating the other end of the slat, are on the other frame, A2; consequently, slats of differentlengths can be tenoned and shouldered by properly adjusting said frames.

Having described my invention,

NVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l 1. The yielding feeding-heads b2 b2, in combination with a device for prickiug-slats, substantially as described.

2. The converging spring-guides B1 B2, for guiding the slats properly to .their Work, sutstantially as described.

3. Supporting the slats, during the operation of tubular tenoning-saws upon them, by means of slatholdcrs c c, applied to intermittent rotating wheels E E, substantially as described.

4. The adjustable stop-gauges g5, applied to the Slat-holders c, substantially as described.

5. The spurred wheels E E, adapted for receiving and holding slats,vand presenting them to tenoning, shouldering, and discharging-devices, substantially as described.

6. The cams or tripping-Wedges 7H, and dogs h2, in combination with rotary slatfholders c, applied and operating substantially as described.

Witnesses:

L. H. AINsWoRTH, P. C. WILLIAMS. 

